Improvement in harness-strap-cutting machines



H. L. GORDON. Harness Strap Cutting Machine.

Patented June 3,1879.

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.4 TTORJV'EYS NJIEI'ERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED-STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

HORACE L. GORDON, OF WEST GARLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS-STRAP-CUTTING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,174, dated June 3,187i); application filed February 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE L. GORDON, of West Garland, in the county of.Penobscot, and in the State of Maine, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Harness- Strap-Onttin g Machines and do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact (leseriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangementof a machine for cutting and skiving the straps for the breeching andbreast-plates of harness, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of my machine. Fig; 2 is a verticalcross-section of the same. Fig. 3 represents the knife and a metal shoeused therewith. Fig. 4 shows one of the patterns.

A represents a bedplate, of suitable form and dimensions, along one sideof which is attached a vertical plate, B. On this plate slides thesliding or movable head 0, which is actuated by a crank, D, and piniona, said pinion engaging with a rack, J), on the under side of thebed-plate.

-On the opposite side of the bed from the vertical plate are projectionsor lugs cl, through which are passed set-screws F, for clamping andholding the work firmly while being out or formed.

E E represent the double pattern, which may be of wood or metal, and ofthe desired form of the work to be cut. Between these patterns theleather is inserted, and the whole is held fast by the clamping-screwsF.

H represents the adjustable or rotating knife-holder, carried in theupper part of the sliding head O. This knife-holder is provided withsprings I I, either one of which is made to rest on an adjlisting-lever, J, pivoted to the side of the head 0. The lever J has aprojection, with segmental slot 6, for the passage of a screw, f, forholding the lever at any angle desired.

L represents the knife, which is adjustable, and secured in a slot inthe knife-holder by a thumb-screw, It. On one end of the knife is thecutting-edge 13, which cuts or forms the leather to the pattern. of theknife is a lance-shaped projecting cutter, m, which on the returnmovement of the sliding head splits the edge of the strap to the depthnecessary for the skiving. The roughened surface which is left on theflesh side of the leather is to be afterward removed by the ordinaryhand-shiver.

When a wood pattern is used it is necessary to insert under thecutting-edge of the knife a thin metal shoe, S, to keep the knife fromcutting the pattern.

The operation of the machine is as follows: After the leather has beencut to the necessary width it should first be soaked to a degree thatwill make it soft and pliable. It is then placed between the patterns,the work or finish side next to the sliding head, and the whole securedby the clamping-screws F. The sliding head O being at the farthest pointto the left, the adjusting-lever J is raised to its highest point andfastened by the thumb screw f. This depresses the edge of the knife tothe pattern, and it is held to this position by the springs I. Bypropelling the sliding head to the right the knife cuts the leather tothe form of the pattern. The adjusting-lever J is then set to its lowestpoint, which causes the lance m at the other end of the blade to piercethe edge of the leather. Then by propelling the head back to the leftthe edge of the strap is split to the required depth for the skiving.raise the pattern without removing the leather, reverse end of thepattern and also edges, place it back in position and secure as before,and proceed to out the last edge in the same manner as the first.

Having thus fully described my invention,

On the opposite end Next loosen the clamping-screws,

form, as arranged for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the bed-plate A, with vertical plate B and lugs d,the clampingserews F, sliding head 0, crank D, pinion a, and rack b,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The combination of the adjustable knife holder H, springs I I, andadjusting-lever J, substantially as and for the purposes herein setforth.

4. The blade L, pror ided at one end with the cutting-edge i, and at theother end with the cutter m, and adjustable in the adjustable holder H,for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The shoe S, in combination with the blade- L, for the purposes hereinset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this8th day of January, 1879.

HORACE L. GORDON. Witnesses:

JASON T. FOGG, GEO. W. CARD.

